More than half of patients with blood cancer who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 have only limited immune protection against the disease, according to a new British scientific study.
Researchers at King’s College (King’s) and the Francis Crick Institute in London, who conducted the SOAP-2 study and published their findings in the cancer biology journal “Cancer Cell,” studied 159 individuals, of whom 72 had solid tumors, 56 had blood cancers, and 31 had no cancer (control group). All had received both doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
It was found that After receiving the full course of vaccination, 57% of patients with blood cancers had an inadequate immune response to the coronavirus. Only the 36% group had developed antibodies and cellular immunity (T lymphocytes), compared to 78% in cancer patients with solid tumors and 88% in healthy individuals in the control group.
The findings confirm the increased risk of COVID-19 even among fully vaccinated people with blood cancers and the need for a third booster dose. On the other hand, patients with solid tumors, such as breast, skin, or urological tumors, while showing a weak immune response after the first dose of the vaccine (38% only), their protective immunity improves significantly after the second dose.
While previous studies had shown that delaying the second dose in healthy people may improve their body’s immune response to the coronavirus, the new study shows that this is not the case for cancer patients, who should not delay their second dose.
The researchers also emphasized the need for vulnerable groups, such as cancer patients, to wear masks and maintain social distancing, especially in crowded places and on public transportation. It is also recommended that children who come into contact with patients with blood cancers be vaccinated.
